Portable table



-July 13, 1943. H K, ULLMAN 2,324,247

PORTABLE TABLE 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed April 27, 1942 @WKZ/Mlm July 13, 1943. H. K ULLMAN 2,324,247

PORTABLE TABLE Filed April 27. 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 wwwa/1,6

July 13, 1943. H. K. ULLMAN PORTABLE TABLE Filed April 27, 19,42

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 g) 1 W www M13/lima? gf aww Patented `Iuly 13, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to portable tables, and is more particularly concerned with a structure intended for temporary attachment to the drawer of a piece of furniture to function as a support for a typewriter.

Portable table structures of the general type to which this invention appertains are known at the present time and many of them are of utility for emergency use as auxiliary pieces of office furniture. For example, as writing tables, used in substitution for the sliding writing board nor- -mally disposed above the bank of drawers and below the top of a desk, they are satisfactory. However, as the art now stands, known portable table structures of a type adapted to be detachably connected to the drawer of a piece of furniture are lacking in many important requisites incident to their use as typewriter supports.

As a result of exhaustive tests by the research `departments of typewriter manufacturers, it has kbeen found that the ideal position for a typewriter support is a horizontal plane very slightly above the lap of a seated typist. In an ordinary desk, however, the top is considerably above this level, the lap level of a person seated thereat being normally about at the bottom of the first drawer. Thus, conventional portable tables which are normally supported from above the top drawer of a `desk and which extend in a horizontal plane only ,portable tables of the types heretofore known may be sufficiently sturdy, they are disposed in such a position that their protracted use as a typing table is impractical, while no feasible way has been hereto-fore devised for disposing them at a lower level while retaining the requisite rigidity requirements.

It is therefore an object of this invention to overcome all of the above diiculties and to provide a portable typewriter table which may be attached to the drawer of a desk and be rigidly l and vibrationlessly supported in a horizontal plane at an optimum level.

It is contemplated that the table structure of this invention may be quickly and easily associ- 'ated and disassociated with the supporting furniture therefor, regardless of the structural characteristics of the latter.

lt is a further object of this invention to provide a portable typewriter table which may be quickly, inexpensively and efficiently fashioned from wood without impairment of strength requirements or loss of adaptability to different pieces of supporting furniture.

ther objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent upon co-nsideration of the following detailed description of several embodiments thereof in conjunction with the annexed drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of this invention showing the typewriter table in association with a desk of conventional construction; l

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 2--2 of Figure i;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in section similar to Figure 2 but illustrating the association of a tableconstructed according to this invention with a different type of desk;

Figure 4 is a sectional view similar to Figure 2 illustrating a modified form of this invention including adjustable elements;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary View showing the adjusting element of Figure 4 in a different position;

Figure 6 is a top plan View of the construction of Figures 4 and 5.

Figure 7 isa sectionalV View similar to Figure 4 illustrating another modified form of this invention including a slidable adjusting element, one side plate of which is removed for convenience of illustration;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary top plan view of the form illustrated in Figure 7; and

Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of the construction illustrated in Figures 7 and 8.

With reference to Figures l and 2, the portable table assembly shown consists of a fiat typewriter supporting table It) supported from a `drawer I I of conventional construction by spaced i lhooks I2. It should be noted that each hook I2 is comprisedv of a transverse portion I3 adapted to` bridge the upper edge of the front panel of drawer II, an inner downwardly depending shank I4 and an outer downwardly depending shank I5. Shanks I4 and I5 engagerespectively the inner and outer surfaces of the front panel of drawer II, the panel being received therebetween. Each outer shank I5 extends downwardly from the top of the front panel of drawer II to a point somewhat below pull-knob I6 of the drawer. Thereafter, an integral portion I1 of shank I5 extends at right angles to the front panel oi drawer il to supporting position underlying table lll. Screws I8 may serve to attach table Iii to portions I1.

It is contempiated that hook I2 and table I0 be made of wood. This is advantageous for several reasons. In the first place, from the standpoint of appearance, the wood of the table and hook can be finished to match the wood of the desk. Additionally, wooden hooks I2 must be of substantial width and thickness. Thus, outer Shanks i5 will extend far enough away from the front surface of the front panel of drawer II so that pull-knob IG will not interfere with the table surface Ill. This is a matter of no small moment since the lap level of a typist seated at the desk will be about ccplanar with the bottom of drawer Ii. This being the case, the optimum level for the typewriter support is usually just about on a plane with the pull-knob of the uppermost drawer. By the use-of wooden hooks of substantial width, the table I0 is disposed in the correct horizontal plane but spaced from the front panel of the drawer. The thickness of the material is also of advantage because there will be a substantial surface contact between all portions of hook I2 and the front panel of drawer I I. This will tend to prevent rocking movement of table Ill in a horizontal plane. Notwithstanding the advantages which result from the use of wooden hooks, these hooks may be constructed of metal or other suitable material, but when the hooks are constructed of other than wood, they may be of the same size and shape as the wooden hooks.

Although the thickness of hooks I2 is important in preventing rocking movement of table I0 in a horizontal plane, the chief difficulty encountered in the prior art is rocking movement in a vertical plane or a tendency of the edge of table I0 most remote from the drawer to vibrate up and down in response to oscillation of the drawer about an axis in a plane normal to its length. The prevention of this type of rocking movement on the part of table I0 forms an important part of this invention. In connection with the discussion of this part of the invention, it is necessary to review the structural characteristics of the ordinary wooden desk. Normally two upyrights I9 and 20 depend from the top of the desk and terminate at the iioor. ,connected by a series of vertically spaced trans- These uprights are verse bars 2l and it is between the bars 2I and uprights I9 and 20 that the drawers are located. Since the drawers are intended for sliding movement, the iit cannot be too tight or stickl ing would result. The consequence of this is that the front of a drawer whenpulled out tends to fall somewhat below its position when fully retracted. This tendency is not objectionable when nothing is supported from the drawer; but, if a table is to be supported therefrom, and in particular if the table is to support a heavy object such as a typewriter, it is evident that the slope lof the drawer will result in a substantial slope ter case, see Figure 3. In the former see Figure 2. Thus, the upper edge of projection 22 is either in direct engagement with or in compressive engagement with, that is through a board such as 24, the most solid portion oi the piece of furniture, and that portion which is least likely to be bent or displaced by the application of a weight on table I0 which will make hook I2 function as a lever.

Subsidiary to projection 22, projection 23 functions in a similar manner with respect to crossbar 2|. Cross-bar 2l, however, is not ordinarily of substantial width and might, if used alone, tend to bow under stress permitting undesirable tilting on the part of table I0. Attention is directed to the width of hook I2 between the inner edge of projection 22 and the inside of the hook defining notch. This distance is marked d in Figure 2 and is of small amplitude. The result of this is that drawer 2I can serve as a typewriter support when almost fully retracted which is a further contributing factor to rigidity. In the interest of silence of operation and to prevent marring of the furniture, hook I2 may be felted at the areas. designated by the numeral 26.

The embodiment of the invention described above in connection with Figures l to 3, inclusive, is the form most readily adaptable to mass production methods Where a large number of typewriter tables are prepared for use with desks of a uniform standard size. Where there is a likelihood that the construction of the desk may be somewhat varied, the modication of the invention disclosed in Figures 4 to 6, inclusive, may be used to advantage.

In Figures 4 to 6, inclusive, like reference characters indicate like parts. It can be seen that table I0 and hook I2 are of the same configuration as in the previously described embodiments. However, a lever 21 is attached to that portion of each hook I2 which extends across the top of the front panel of drawer II Lever 21 is pivotally attached by a bolt 28 passing entirely through hook I2 as may be seen in Figure 6. Lever 21 is provided with a slot at 29 adjacent its free end, such slot serving toY accommodate the shank of a bolt 3l] which is passed through projection 23. A wing-nut 3I acting against a washer 32 serves to immobilize lever 21 at any one of a number of adjusted positions.

In Figure 4, lever 21 is shown in an inoperative position where the desk construction is similar to that shown in Figure 1 In the event however that the distance from the underside oi.'

f either desk top 25 or sliding board 24, as the case may be, to the underside of transverse bar 2I is less than standard, wing-nut 3I may be loosened and lever 21 biased upwardly to the position of Figure 5 to make a snug t under a narrow transverse bar such as 2Ia. It will be realized that, regardless of the thickness of the top of the desk or the cumulative thickness of the desk top and the sliding board 24, projection course, evident that in the event it is deemed desirable, a lever 2'! may be disposed on each side of each hook l2.

In the modification illustrated in Figures 7 to 9, inclusive, where like reference characters indicate like parts, it will be observed that table IS and hook l2 are of the same general configuration as in the previously described embodiments. However, inner shank lila in Figures 7-9 is made slightly longer than the corresponding part in Figures 1-6, inclusive, to provide in addition to projecting portion 22a, a projecting portion 23a which is slightly longer than the corresponding portion in Figures 1-6, inclusive, to provide a guide-way or track 33 for a slidable adjusting member 34.

In the form illustrated, track 33 is inverted T- shape in cross-section to provide a top portion 33a of reduced cross-section and shoulders 33h and 33o. The adjusting member 34 is formed of two side plates Sila and 3d?) which are secured to a slide block 34e in such a way that the slide block rests upon the top portion of the track 33 and the depending side plates embrace opposed side portions of said track and engage or ride along the shoulders 33h and 33e, respectively. The plates 34a, Sb are provided with slotted portions 34d to receive a bolt 35 provided with a wing-nut 36 by which the adjusting member is held in adjusted position on the track 33. The top or upper surface Sile of adjusting member 3d is inclined whereby a wedge-shaped adjusting member is provided to compensate for differences in the thickness of transverse member 2i. By loosening nut 36, the adjusting member can be adjusted to engage or compensate for a transverse member 2l of variable thickness, the inclined top portion engaging the under side of the transverse member as shown in Figure 7, whereupon the adjusting member is clamped in place by tightening the nut 35.

Although in this specification and the accompanying drawings, there is shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, various modifications thereof and various suggested alternatives, they are not intended to be exhaustive nor limiting of the invention, but, on the contrary, are given for the purpose of illustrating the invention and instructing others in the principles thereof and the best manner of utilizing the invention in a practical manner, in order that others may be enabled to modify and apply it in numerous forms each as may be best suited to the conditions and requirements of any particular use.

The term engage compressively as used in the claims hereunto appended is intended to include direct-engagement with the underside of the top of a piece of furniture or engagement with the underside of a member such as board 2d which is in surface contact with the underside of such top and held against displacement thereby. The term retracted is used herein with respect to drawer I l to designate the closed position of the latter as distinguished from the open or exten-ded position thereof.

What is claimed is:

l. A typewriter support for attachment to a desk or like article of furniture having a top and a drawer slidable thereunder comprising, means defining a tab-le surface of a size to accommodate a typewriter or the like, a plurality of hooks, each hook including a portion adapted to bridge ic top edge of the front panel of a drawer and integral inner and outer depending shanks for snugly receiving the front panel of a drawer therebetween, each outer shank having an integral portion extending outwardly therefrom attached to, underlying, and supporting the means denning a table surface, each inner shank having a portion adapted to engage compressively the underside of the top and a portion adapted to engage at least one other structural element of the furniture, whereby the outer shank of each hook held rigid with the drawer by the engagement of the integral depending Shanks with its front panel and the drawer is held rigid with the piece of furniture as a whole by the compressive engagement of a portion of the inner shank with the underside of the top thereof.

2. A typewriter support for attachment to a desk or like article of furniture having a top and a drawer slidable thereunder comprising, means defining a table surface of a size to accommodate a typewriter or the like, a plurality of hooks, each hook including a portion adapted to bridge the top edge of the front panel of a drawer and integral inner and outer depending Shanks for receiving the front panel of a drawer therebetween, each outer shank having an integral portion extending outwardly therefrom attached to, underlying, and supporting the means defining a table surface, said outwardly extending portion lying in a plane spaced below the portion of the .hook which bridges the top edge of the front panel of a drawer a distance at least equal to that between the top edge of the front panel of a drawer and its normal pull-knob, the outer Shanks being of a width greater than the normal length of a pull-knob, each inner shank having a portion adapted to engage compressively the underside of the top and at least one other stmotural element of the furniture, whereby the outer shank of each hook is held rigid with the drawer in a plane at a level desirable for the disposition of a tyyewriter while the drawer is held rigid with the piece of furniture as a whole by the compressive engagement of a portion of the inner shank of each hook with the underside of the top of said piece of furniture.

3. A typewriter support for attachment to a desk or like article of furniture having a top and a drawer slidable thereunder comprising, means defining a table surface of a size to accommodate a typewriter or the like, a plurality of hooks, each hook including a portion adapted to bridge the top edge of the front panel of a drawer and integral inner and outer depending Shanks for snugly receiving the front panel of a drawer therebetween, each outer shank having an integral portion extending outwardly therefrom attached to, underlying, and supporting the means defining a table surface, each inner shank having a portion adapted to engage compressively the underside of the top and a portion adapted to engage at least one other structural element of the furniture, and means for adjustably mounting said last-named portion, whereby the outer shank of each hook is held rigid with the drawer by the engagement of the integral depending shanks with its front panel and the drawer is held rigid with the piece of furniture as a whole by the compressive engagement of portions of the inner shank with portions of said piece of furniture.

e. A typewriter support for attachment to a desk or like article of furniture having a top and a. drawer slidable thereunder comprising, means defining a tab-le surface of a size to accomodate a typewriter or the like, a plurality ofA hooks, each hook including a portion adapted to bridge the top edge of the front panel of a drawer and integral inner and outer depending Shanks for snugly receiving the front panel of a drawer therebetween, each outer shank having an integral portion extending outwardly there` from attached to, underlying, and supporting the means defining a table surface, each inner shank having a portion adapted to engage compressvely he underside of the top, and a slidably mounted HENRY K. ULLMAN.

10 furniture. 

